Orthopedic Oncology: Treatment Options
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Your orthopedic oncology plan
Dr. Schmidt and his team provide a powerful combination of traditional and new, innovative therapies to help you fight all forms of primary bone cancer and soft tissue sarcomas, as well as metastatic cancer to bone. The goal is to help you get rid of the cancer and get back on your feet again.
Your bone cancer treatment will depend on many factors, including the location, size, type, grade, and stage of the tumor, as well as your age, general health, and other factors.
A common treatment for bone cancer is surgery. The goal of surgery may be to remove the tumor and surrounding area of normal bone and/or to relieve symptoms.
Treatment options
The CTCA Orthopedic Oncology Program provides specialized surgical procedures, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Soft tissue excisions/resections
- Joint replacement, hip replacement
- Limb salvage surgery
- Amputation (if necessary)
- Bone grafting
- Rodding/rod fixation (i.e., placing metal rods in bones to prevent them from breaking)
- Implants (e.g., metal implants, prosthesis), transplants
- Reconstructive surgery
- Palliative surgery (to relieve symptoms)
The type of surgery you receive will vary. For instance, for soft tissue sarcomas, treatment may involve resection of some of the muscles in the arms and legs. For cancer of the bone, procedures may include joint replacement, hip replacement, rodding, or implants. For metastatic cancer to the bone, treatment may involve rodding or rod pixation.
Dr. Schmidt has particular expertise in limb-salvage and bone reconstruction surgeries. He will perform limb-salvage procedures to avoid amputation whenever possible.
“We try very hard not to amputate unless it is absolutely necessary,” says Haber. Once the tumor is removed, Dr. Schmidt will reconstruct the bones to help restore full mobility of the limb.
If the cancer is in a location that can’t be removed surgically, your care team is committed to exploring other options. Dr. Schmidt collaborates regularly with the other CTCA specialties to coordinate your treatment plan. In addition to surgery, you may also receive radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.
